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GOG contribute the Boxers preparation in Cuba for Olympic qualifiers
By Sean Devers
Guyana’s Director of Sports since June 2015, Christopher Jones celebrated his birthday yesterday but he was the one giving when he handed over a cheque for $1 Million to President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle at a simple presentation at the National Sports Commission (NSC) Office on Homestretch Avenue.
Director of Sports Chris Jones presents to $1Million cheque to GBA’s President Steve Ninvalle.
The Cheque was an advance payment to facilitate a three-month training camp in Cuba for Guyana’s four Olympic Boxing hopefuls; Kevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam, Denis Thomas and Colin Lewis, who are scheduled to depart for the largest Caribbean Island on December 29, 2019.
Ninvalle thanked the Guyana Government and the NSC for their contribution which he said will assist the pugilists as they attempt to qualify for next year’s Olympic qualifiers from March 26 to April 3 in Argentina.
The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo Japan from July 24 to August 9.
In 1996 when John Douglas competed in the men’s light heavyweight event in the Summer Olympics, was the last time a Guyanese Boxer Qualified for the Olympics, while Guyana’s Mike Parris, who won a Bronze Medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, remains the only Boxer from the English Speaking Caribbean to win an Olympic Medal.
Ninvalle, who was appointed Chairman of AIBA’s Youth Commission in February this year, informed that it takes approximately $800,000 to produce an Olympic Medalist in Boxing.
(From Left) GBA’s TD Terrence Poole, DS Chris Jones and GBA President Steve Ninvalle.
“The smaller Countries can’t afford that kind of investment and this must be a contributing factor to why it has been almost 40 years since a Caricom member state has won a Medal in Boxing,” Ninvalle, in his third term as GBA Head, opined.
Ninvalle said the Government coming on board is an excellent gesture at a time when trying to get funding for Boxing is not an easy task. He added that the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has also pledged financial support.
The NSC, through the intervention of the Director of Sports, had made a last-minute contribution of $1million towards Guyana attending this month’s Caribbean Boxing Championships in Trinidad.
The defending Champions’ reduced team finished third as Allicock and the Jackman sisters (Alisha & Abiola) won Guyana’s three Gold Medals.
“We saw the performance of Jamaica, T&T and even Grenada because of the exposure and funding to travel for overseas tournaments. There are plans for a Championship to be held in Panama in January and another one in the Dominican Republic in February. If plans for those Tournaments bear fruit, the four boxers in Cuba will attend those Championships,” Ninvalle informed.
GBA boss, who was elected in March this year as Vice President of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) at a Congress held in Panama, disclosed that Coach Sebert Blake and GCA’s Technical Director Coach Terrence Poole MS should accompany the boxers to Cuba, while Cuban Coach Francisco Roldan, who worked with Allicock in Cuba during his preparations for the Pan Am Games in Peru, will join the pair of Guyanese Coaches.
Jones, who replaced Neil Kumar as Director of Sports, informed that the Government is committed to contributing towards the development of Sports Associations in Guyana that have their books in order and are likely to be competitive in Regional or International events.
“I see boxing as the best chance of Guyana getting an Olympic Medal and when we heard about the proposed trip to Cuba the NSC pledged $2.5 Million. This cheque is for $1 Million and the balance will be presented in January and February,” Jones stated.
The entire cost of Airfare, accommodation, meals and coaching fees is US$30,000 and while in Cuba the Guyanese boxers will be involved in tournaments every week and will be exposed to sparring sessions with Cuba’s top fighters.
The GBA is requesting that Guyana Power & Light (GPL) release Coach Blake from his duties there for a period of three months for National duties, while a similar request is being made to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for Amsterdam, Lewis and Coach Poole and to the Guyana Police Force for the release of Thomas for the same period.
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